PRACTICAL MAGIC

Who says you can have too much of a good thing? Certainly not Peugeot 308 SW customers, as Andy Enright reports

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The diesel range consists of Peugeot's excellent HDi common-rail diesel engines. There's a 1.6-litre unit offered in 90 or 110bhp form and a 2.0-litre 136bhp option topping the range that will get from a standstill to 60mph in 10.1s.

While the engines are top notch, the 308 has never garnered much of a reputation as a driver's car, though it's a step forward from the old 307. The steering isn't rich in feel and the balance between ride quality and handling ability never quite hits the sweet spot. To be fair, this is more of an issue if you're buying the hatch model, the SW estate version being more geared towards practicality and angled at buyers for whom handling finesse is less of a concern. One day Peugeot will recover its mojo in making its cars fun to drive, but until then we'll accept some great engines and stolid, unspectacular handling.

Although a compact estate might have an element of oxymoron about it, the 308SW is less compact than most. Peugeot has insisted that the SW needs to be able to seat seven with two occasional seats which can be fitted into the rear but these are really only any good for small children. As a seven-seat MPV, the 308 SW trails the pack but as a five-seat estate with some extra kids' space, it's very competitive. With the rear seats in place, there's 674 litres under the rear load cover, while with the rear seats removed, there's a massive 2,149 litres up to roof level. Let's put those figures into perspective. Audi's latest A4 Avant claims to be the biggest estate in its sector, yet can swallow a mere 490 litres behind its back seats.

The 308SW isn't just a 308 hatch with a glasshouse tacked to its boot either. The wheelbase is 100mm longer than the hatchback car, which allows rear seat passengers to enjoy some space. The rear overhang has been increased by 124mm to get that headline luggage bay size while the panoramic glass roof that gives the interior such a light and airy feel has been increased in size by 27 per cent. It now extends beyond the heads of second row passengers. Access to the rear is aided by separately opening tailgate glass.

Prices represent a premium over the standard five-door hatch of only £500-£600 in entry-level S models, though you'll need to budget on an extra premium of £1000 or more if you go for a higher spec version. Equipment on all variants runs to power steering, remote control central locking with deadlocks, electric front windows, a steering column adjustable for reach and rake, a CD player, passenger / driver seat height adjustment, a trip computer and electrically operated door mirrors. Peugeot has armed the 308 with a wide selection of technological curiosities to help it battle the family hatchback sector's big hitters.

You'll need to dip into the options list to get the bi-xenon directional headlamps and the Lane Departure Warning System (which gives you the electronic equivalent of a dig in the ribs from your better half if you wander across a white line without indicating), but a lot of the safety kit is standard. Seven airbags are included and SW buyers can add to this count with rear side airbags if they want to. There's also ABS with EBFD and EBA (or anti-lock brakes with brakeforce distribution and brake assistance in laymans' language).

The compact Estate sector is notoriously tough to make headway in. The 307SW looked good at launch but was quickly overtaken by the usual suspects, so Peugeot will be looking for the 308SW to show some staying power. To do so, it will need to get chosen on merit over the likes of Volkswagen's Golf, Ford's Focus, Vauxhall's Astra and Renault's Megane.

Peugeot is proud of the fact that some of the best aerodynamics in the sector have been achieved with the 308. A drag coefficient of 0.29 will mean little to most buyers but the resultant slippery styling and fuel economy advantage should strike a chord. The greenest engine choice is the FAP particulate filter-equipped 1.6-litre HDi which gets over 57 miles from each gallon on the combined cycle. It also dips under the 130g/km barrier for CO2 emissions. The 136bhp 2.0-litre HDi, also with a particulate filter to clean up its act, returns almost 50mpg while the turbocharged petrol engine lags in behind with 38.7 mpg which is still far from disgraceful.

Choosing a new car is never easy. After the decision to have a kid and to buy a house, it's the next biggest financial decision you're likely to make and the consequences of getting it wrong can be costly. The Peugeot 308 has established itself as a safe, if rather unspectacular choice, chosen by those who appreciate a stylish cabin and great engines. The SW estate version adds some serious practicality to that mix and is by far the most class-competitive 308 variant it's possible to buy. In short, it puts one over on its key rivals with its sheer size.

Choosing the right Peugeot 308 SW isn't that easy either. With some very good petrol and diesel engines on offer, at least it's hard to make a bad choice. Our choice would probably be an HDi 136 engine if you're looking at diesel or the 1.6-litre THP if you're planning on petrol power.